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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
what I expected, and it seems to me that I have run into a prosaic strain. As I have many letters to answer I pray you to think that I have not been grudging with yours. Sam Houston [Rubric] General Murphy &c.&c.&c. 1 From a photostat of the original in the State Department of the United States Government by the courtesy of Rice Institute, Houston, Texas; also Crane, Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston, 366-370. TO ISAAC VAN ZANDT AND J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON 1 City of Houston, May 17, 1844. (Confidential.) To the Hon. Isaac Van Zandt, and J. P. Henderson, &c., &c., &c. Gentlemen:- Intelligence which your last communications brought to me seems adverse to the calculations which were made when Gen. Henderson was accredited to the United States.-If truly that Government is not disposed to comsummate the plan of annexation, it would seem useless for him longer to remain at the Court at Washington. \Vhatever the desires of this Government or the people are or might have been, in relation to annexation, I am satisfied they are not ambitious at this time, nor will ever be again to be seen in the attitude of a bone of contention, to be worried or gnawed by the influence of conflicting politicians. The views of the Executive of this country as well as its citizens were fairly presented in a willingness to become annexed to the United States. And though the advantages presented to the United States were incalculably greater than those resulting to Texas, she was willing to stand the hazard of the adventure. The statesmen of that country appear to be united in opinion adverse to our admission into the Union of the North. We must therefore regard ourselves as a nation to ·remain forever separate. It would be unpleasant for us to enter into a community as a member, where we should be regarded ungraciously by either of the political parties. Texas, alone, can well be sustained, and no matter what sincere desire we may have entertained for a con- nection with that government, and the affectionate enthusiasm that has existed in this towards it, we will be compelled to recon- cile ourselves to our present condition, or to assume such attitude toward other countries as will certainly look to our independence.
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